Feeder for counting machines



NOV. 4, 1941. s w L FEEDER FOR COUNTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

FIG. 1

INVENT OR.

Ala M .S. WELK' BY @Ekum/ HTTORNEY Nov. 4, 1941. N s w L 2,261,708

FEEDER FOR COUNTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21', 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /V ON 5. WELK BY M17 a/ 9pm,

=- ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1941 2,261,708 FEEDER roa COUNTING MACHINES Nelson S. Welk, Athens, Ohio, assignor to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 2 1, 1940, Serial No. 371,129

3 Claims.

My invention relates to that class of machines described in my copending divisional application Serial No. 352,703, of which this is a continuation in part.

The present case out of which Serial No. 352,703 was divided, described a machine for counting cards which is very successful in commercial practice. In that application I have shown a machine the frame of which has at its top two parallel shafts one at the top of each side of the frame and which extend longitudinally of the frame. A cross bar is slidably mounted on these rods. Means are provided to lock the cross bar in positionwhen its proper location has been ascertained. This cross bar carries the magazine or card support. In practice it has been found that the two rods, upon which the cross bar slides interfere with the operator when he is placing a stack of cards in the magazine or card support in position to be fed into the machine in which they are to be counted.

The principal object of my invention is to improve the support for the stack of cards.

A further object is to entirely do away with the parallel rods or shafts without sacrificing the feature of a single movement for adjusting the card support.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings, which are hereunto annexed and made a part of this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the front portion of my counting machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of my improved support for the cards; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

As shown in the drawings and described in the said copending applications the counting machine (only a fragmentary portion of which is shown in the drawings of this application) has a frame having sides I and 2 in which are mounted the ends ofthe various shafts which carry the rollers of the machine.

A main and feeding roll 3 is mounted on a shaft 4. This shaft also carries two card supporting rolls 5 and 6. Spacing plates I and 8 are mounted on a shaft 9 and are slidably mounted thereon to provide for lateral movement to adjust the plates 1 and 8 to cards of various widths.

As described in the said copending applications various sets of carrying rolls are provided to carry the cards through the machine, but as this case relates solely to the magazine or card support specific details of said parts is omitted.

A table I 0 is mounted in the frontof the machine. This table II] is provided with a longitudinal groove II in which is preferably mounted a channel l2 the edges of which are inturned forming flanges l3 and Hi. The card support I5 is formed of an angular plate the base It of which is secured to a sliding block l6 by means of bolts I! or in any other convenient manner.

This block I6 is formed with two grooves l8 and I9 which are fitted to the inturned flanges l3 and M and slidable thereon. A friction spring 20 is secured to the bottom of the block I 6' by means of nuts 2| on the bolts IT. This spring 20 bears against the surface of the channel l2, and resists free movement of the block.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that the card support l5 can be moved forward or backwards in the channel l2 to accommodate various sizes of cards. The friction caused by the pressure of spring 20 on the channel I! affords the only resistance which, while easily overcome by manual operation, is ample to hold the card support IS in its proper location to support the cards which are to be counted.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a card counting machine having a frame and feed rollers; comprising a table adjacent the main feed roller, said table having a groove therein,- a channel member in said groove said channel member having inturned flanges, a block mounted and slidable on said inturned flanges,

an angular card support carried by said block, a spring secured to said block adapted to cause frictional resistance to the longitudinal movement of said block.

2. In a card counting machine having a frame and feed rollers, comprising a table adjacent the main feed roller, said table having a groove therein, a channel member in said groove, a block mounted and slidable in said channel memher, an angular card support carried by said block means to cause frictional resistance to the movement of said block.

3. In a card counting machine having a frame and feed rollers, comprising a table adjacent the main feed roller, said table having a groove therein, a channel member in said groove, said channel member having inturned flanges, a block mounted and slidable beneath on said inturned flanges, an angular card support carried by said block. means to cause frictional resistance to the longitudinal movement of said block.

- NELSON S. WELK. 

